MITC Trade Bulletin


MITC Trade Bulletin The Maine International Trade Center's Electronic News Service - A Members Only Benefit Thursday, April 22, 2004

This seminar is designed for Maine businesses looking to explore the Caribbean Basin as a trading market and identify the current and future potential for your products or services in this region. This program will provide an overview of the economic and trade climate in the Caribbean Basin. An expert on Free Trade Agreements in the region will provide important details from CBI and CAFTA for Maine businesses trading in this market. An economic overview of the larger economies in the region, trade statistics, and import/export trends will also be examined to help your company identify future trade opportunities. To view the program agenda, click on the link below for the seminar brochure (PDF document):
http://www.mitc.com/PDF/TemplateCaribbeanBasin.pdf

The New EU: Business Opportunities in the Expanded European Union
The Maine International Trade Center is proud to present the 24^th Annual Maine International Trade Day - back in the Portland area for the first time since 2001! This year’s program highlights trade opportunities and expected changes with the European Union’s scheduled expansion to include 10 new member countries from Central and Eastern Europe. The schedule includes a State of Trade update, an informative Overview of the EU Expansion; an exciting Panel Session on Business Opportunities in the New EU; a late afternoon Networking Reception; and the Annual Awards Dinner featuring Maine Governor John Baldacci and special Keynote Speaker Joost van Leenders, Senior Economist from ABN AMRO - Netherlands.

Join us for this premiere event for Maine’s international business community!

EU Retaliatory Tariffs on 1,608 U.S. products - On March 1, 2004, the EU began to impose retaliatory trade sanctions on a number of U.S. products, as a result of the WTO ruling that the FSC/ETI provisions of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code constitute a prohibited export subsidy and are in violation of WTO rules. After years of litigation, in May 2003, the WTO Dispute Settlement Body authorized the EU to impose sanctions on $4.043 billion worth of U.S. exports, if the United States fails to comply with the WTO decision. The EU will initially impose an additional duty of 5 percent on 1,608 U.S. products. The duty will rise automatically by 1 percentage point each month until it reaches a ceiling of 17 percent in March 2005. At that point, the EU will make a determination on its next course of action if the United States still has not complied with the WTO ruling. The Administration and Congress continue to work towards repealing the FSC/ETI provisions in order to achieve U.S. compliance with the WTO ruling. For a Full List of Products affected by the new EU tariffs (listed by eight-digit CN codes): http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/pri/en/oj/dat/2003/l_328/l_32820031217en00030012.pdf

2004 Biotechnology Industry Organization Legislative Fly-In, April 27-28, 2004. The annual BIO Fly-In takes place every spring, and hundreds of biotech industry executives participate. This event will provide an opportunity for the biotechnology industry to meet with the members of the 108th Congress and to advocate the BIO legislative agenda. For more information, please visit http://www.bio.org/flyin/.

Maine Biological & Medical Sciences Symposium, April 30 & May 1, 2004, Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory in Salisbury Cove, ME. The Symposium is divided into three sessions: Marine & Freshwater Biology, Comparative Functional Genomics, and Physiology & Human Health. Visit the website below for more info or contact Michael McKernan: 207-288-9880 ext. 102 or mmckernan@mdibl.org. http://www.mdibl.org/courses/mbmss04.shtml

State of Maine Homeland Security Conference, May 14, 2004. The State of Maine Homeland Security Conference is presented by Governor John Baldacci and Senator Susan Collins, and produced by a consortium of academic and industry entities. The conference will bring together leaders in homeland security policy with small businesses, first responders, municipalities, suppliers and service providers. For more information, please visit http://www.umaine.edu/mcsc/.

Blaine House Conference on the Creative Economy, May 7-8, 2004, Bates Mill Complex, Lewiston, Maine. Governor John E. Baldacci will open the conference with introductory remarks on the current climate of Maine’s Creative Economy. For more information, please visit http://www.mainecreativeeconomy.org/ConferenceHome.html

Export Expo 2004 - This trade and border security conference will be held in Saint John, New Brunswick on May 14 and 15. The conference will feature a keynote address by Premier Lord. The conference will target SMEs and will be open to Eastern Canadian Provinces and New England States. Rotating seminar tracks will focus on finance, marketing, and regulatory issues of interest to SMEs doing business in the US. For more information, please visit http://www.exportexpo04.com/index.jsp

Business > Forward, May 26, 2004, Saint John, New Brunswick. An IT conference that will help you to improve, simplify, maximize and accelerate your business with technology. For more information, please visit: www.businessforward.ca or call 1-888-967-5797.

Medical Polymers 2004, June 3-4, Dublin, Ireland. A two-day conference focusing on the use of polymers in the medical industry. For more information, please visit: www.polymerconferences.com, or contact Sharon Garrington at sgarrington@rapra.net.

RepCan 2004, Business Matchmaking Event, June 16-17, 2004, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. This two-day event is hosted by the U.S. Commercial Service and will promote products and services of U.S. export-ready firms to potential business prospects in Ontario. For more information: Commercial Service of the U.S. Consulate General in Toronto at (416) 595-5412 x 223.

2004 FMI Show - May 2-4, 2004. Chicago, IL. NEW at FMI 2004! Food Marketing Institute (FMI) is partnering with the U.S. Food Export Showcase (sponsored by the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture), All Things Organic, United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association, and the Fancy Food Show. For information on exhibiting in the U.S. Food Export Showcase, please contact: Sharon.Cook@usda.gov

Turkey Build 2004, May 5-9, 2004, Istanbul, Turkey. The 27^th International Building Construction Materials and Technologies Show. For more information: http://www.yem.net/yem/english/fairs/ist/images/TURKEYBUILD_brochure2004.pdf

APAS - May 10-13, 2004, Sao Paulo, Brazil. The Sao Paulo State Supermarket Association (APAS) show is an annual trade show dedicated to the retail sector. The show is considered the third largest supermarket trade event in the world. This show is well known for its business orientation and it is a respected showcase for food and beverage products, equipment and services to the retail sector. It is opened only to sector professionals. In 2003, ATO Sao Paulo promoted 174 U.S. products under the “U.S. Contemporary Food” concept with 25 new-to-market U.S. companies who reported projected sales of $124,000. Contact: Teresina.Chin@usda.gov

ANALYTICA 2004 - May 11-14, 2004, Munich, Germany. Held every two years since 1968, ANALYTICA is the international meeting place for specialists from the areas of environmental foodstuffs and industrial analysis, biochemistry, biotechnology, genetic engineering, molecular and cell biology. For more information: www.analytica.de The Eastern Maine Trade Council in partnership with MITC will coordinate participation of Maine companies at a most competitive price, for details contact: Dana Eidsness at eidsness@mitc.com or 207-753-0574.

Canadian Environmental Conference & Tradeshow, May 12-13, Toronto, Ontario. Deadline for participating in the U.S. Department of Commerce’s CANECT, Gold Key program is APRIL 9, 2004. For more information, please visit http://www.buyusa.gov/canada/en/environment.html

85^th National Restaurant Association (NRA) Hotel-Motel Show - May 22-25, 2004, McCormick Place, Chicago. (The Maine International Trade Center has filled the Maine Booth at this show to capacity,, and registration is now closed. )

IFIA Japan 2004, May 26-28, 2004, Tokyo, Japan, Asia’s largest food ingredients and addictives event. Combining large collection of manufacturers, distributors with a showcase of the largest products and services for the industry. For more information contact Kathy Giannetti via email: giannetti@ejkrause.com

EXPHOTEL - June 9-11, 2004, Cancun, Mexico. This is the most complete and important trade event for food and beverage products in the Yucatan Peninsula and the Caribbean. If U.S. suppliers are interested in positioning their products into the most important and rapidly growing hotel, restaurant and tourist venue in all of Mexico, they must attend this event. All key importers and distributors servicing this important destination attend this show. At last year’s show, over 4,800 key contacts from the hospitality industry, including hotels, restaurants, industrial cafeterias, bars, and discos, visited the show. There were over 28 companies who exhibited in the USA Pavilion. Contact: Teresina.Chin@usda.gov

Food Taipei - June 17-20, 2004, Taipei International Food Show, Taipei, Taiwan. Beverages, condiments, frozen foods, and more...For more information: www.taipeitradeshows.com.tw

Food and Hotel South China, June 23-25, 2004, Guangzhou Convention Center, China. For more information, please contact: Khaliaka Meardry, USDA Trade Show Office, (202)720-3065, Khaliaka.Meardry@usda.gov.

American Café, June 23-24, 2004, Casablanca, Morocco. The third U.S. Consumer Oriented Food Products Exhibition hosted by the Agricultural Affairs Office in Rabat and the USDA Trade Show Office. For more information, please see: http://www.fas.usda.gov/agexport/tsinfo.html.

Commercial Vehicle and Bus Trade Fair, Sept. 9-2, 2004, Moscow, Russia. Due to little competition from Russian truck manufacturers, growing freight volumes and an annual replacement demand for heavy trucks and trailers, conditions are favorable for new market entrants. Contact: Ken Cardelle at Kcardelle@iegexpo.com or see www.iegexpo.com

FHC2004 Shanghai, Sept 14-17, 2004, Shanghai, China. The 12^th international exhibition for the foods, drink, hospitality, foodservice, bakery and retail industry. Robert Chang, Tel: 415-433-3072, email: comtours@aol.com.

International Lighting Fair, October 18-23, 2004, Guzhen, China. For more information, please visit www.lightingcapital.cn.

USA PAVILION at SIAL PARIS 2004, October 17-21, 2004, Paris, France. This event is a USDA-endorsed food products exhibition. For more information, please contact Sharon Cook, USDA Trade Show Office, (202)720-3425, www.fas.usda.gov

All Asia Food Expo, New York City, October 2004. All Asia Food Expo is a trade event featuring Asian food and beverage products organized by Diversified Business Communications, which is based in Portland, Maine. For more information, visit: www.divbusiness.com or contact Julie Bernier at jbernier@divcom.com

China-Pharm, November 17-20, Beijing, China. Pharmaceuticals, Pharmaceutical Machinery and Equipment. For more information, visit www.mdna.com/medical.html.

iNetwork128's 5th Matchmaking Trade Mission to China, June 19-30, 2004. The pan-New England international entrepreneur group iNetwork128 is organizing its 5th SME (small and medium-sized enterprises) trade mission to China with extensive pre-trip matchmaking efforts. The delegation will visit 5 major cities across the country -Shanghai, Changsha (capital of Hunan), Guangzhou (capital of Guangdong), Beijing and Weihai (Shandong). Supported and participated by government entities from both countries and substantially-subsidized by various Chinese hosts, it is an economical, yet effective channel for US SMEs to quickly tap into China. For more information, please visit www.MeetChinaBiz.org, or contact Shawn He at 781-278-8855 or email info@iNetwork128.org.
NOTE: MITC Member company Milburn Marketing Company of Portland will participate in this trade mission. Milburn specializes in sourcing gift and house ware products. Should anyone need assistance with sourcing these types of products in China , please contact MITC Member John Milburn at mailto:jmilburn@rcn.com.

Information and Communications Technologies Trade Mission to South East Asia - The U.S. Department of Commerce’s office of Export Promotion Services is offering a unique opportunity for all U.S. Information and Communications Technologies firms to expand their businesses into the booming market places of Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. These three import oriented market places are notable because of their large, tech savvy populations and their growing demand for new products ranging from broadband services to network security products and everything in between. Participation in this ICT Trade Mission will save you time and money by finding qualified business partners that match your needs. Whether you are seeking distributors, or sales representatives, partners in licensing or joint ventures, we will introduce you to the right business contacts. Don’t miss this affordable opportunity to launch or expand your export business into the promising markets of South East Asia! Contact Matthew Wright, Project Officer, Commercial Service Trade Missions. Fax: 202-482-0178. Tel: 202-482-2567. E-mail: Matthew.Wright@mail.doc.gov.

Business-to-Business Connections in Maine and Atlantic Canada - Eastern Maine Development Corporation is leading in the effort to encourage more development and business-to-business connections in Maine and Atlantic Canada. In cooperation with Enterprise Saint John, we encourage firms to consider attending the upcoming business events. First is an event focused on Canadian firms exporting to the US - an opportunity to meet firms interested in US markets. Export Expo takes place May 14 & 15 (www.exportexpo04.com). The second event, targeting the IT industry, is Business>Forward on May 25-26, 2004 (www.businessforward.ca).

New Report Profiles Technology Firms in Atlantic Canada - APEC’s most recent Atlantic Report (Winter 2004, vol. 38, no. 4), released on March 24, points to the importance of fostering growth in technology-based firms as crucial to improving prosperity in Atlantic Canada. APEC estimates that in 2002, there were about 46,500 jobs in the region in industries which are either science based, or associated with information and communications technology. Most of these jobs are in the larger urban centres. While Atlantic Canada has many examples of innovative firms that are successfully producing and apply new technologies, APEC’s analysis points to the challenges in strengthening the region’s technology-based enterprises. This research was initially presented at APEC’s Business Outlook 2004 Conference. For media release, access: www.apec-econ.ca/news.htm. Copies of the report are distributed to members and Outlook 2004 registrants free of charge: others may order on line at www.apec-econ.ca or by calling 902-422-6516.

Is your environmental company looking for business in Canada? For environmental companies with products suited to industrial clients, the Canadian Environmental Trade Show & Conference (CANECT) could be the perfect venue to find a rep in the heart of Canada's manufacturing base - Toronto,Ontario. Below is a link to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s CSCanada web site and the event - note that only through USCSCanada can a US company register at the conference for 1/2 price – a superb source of market information! This, combined with before-during-after service through the Gold Key program, should be of real interest to new-to-market clients. (See the event link for best prospects.) Our event: http://www.buyusa.gov/canada/en/environment.html

“CAFTA Marketplace” offers affordable export promotion in Central America - With plans for the U.S.-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) moving forward, U.S. companies stand to benefit from open markets, expanded business opportunities, and stronger trade ties with Central America. The U.S. Department of Commerce will promote U.S. products and services at "CAFTA Marketplace" – an official International Catalog Exhibition in six markets to be covered by CAFTA. Participation in "CAFTA Marketplace" will put your company’s catalogs in the hands of hundreds of potential business partners and buyers in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama. Don’t miss this affordable opportunity to launch or expand your export business in nearby promising markets! Contact Louis Quay, Project Officer, International Catalog Exhibitions. Fax: 202-482-3973. Tel: 202-482-3973. E-mail: Louis.Quay@mail.doc.gov.

Study Released on Forest Industry Potential in New Brunswick - A new APEC report “The New Brunswick Forest Industry: The Potential Economic Impact of Proposals to Increase the Wood Supply” examines the potential economic impact of recommendations to increase the long term wood supply on Crown land by shifting to more intensive silviculture. The study also reveals the current importance of the forest sector in supporting the industrial base in the province, providing high wage employment and contributing to provincial tax revenues. The report was commissioned by New Brunswick’s Department of Natural Resources and released by Natural Resources Minister Keith Ashfield at the annual Sylvicon forestry conference in Fredericton on Feb 13. To download a copy of the report, go to: www.apec-econ.ca/publicat.htm.

The Penobscot School in Rockland, Maine is pleased to announce the Keiko Takahashi Scholarship Fund dedicated to providing funds for adult students from other countries and for immigrants in Maine, in order that they may attend the English Immersion Program of Penobscot School. For more information on how to apply, or if you wish to make a donation to the Keiko Takahashi Scholarship Fund, please contact David Clough, Executive Director, at 594-7688, or by email at davidc@languagelearning.org . Applications must be received by April 30, 2004.

The United States Department of Commerce and the Office of Export Promotion Services has enhanced their Trade Events List to include search features, allowing you to more easily peruse the list. http://www.export.gov/comm_svc/tradeevents.html

MITC Trade Bulletin is a members only benefit. For information about MITC membership, please visit our website or contact us today.

Website: www.mitc.com

Bangor Office: 207-990-3161
Lewiston Office: 207-753-0574
Portland Office: 207-541-7400

Turkey Build 2004, May 5-9, 2004, Istanbul, Turkey. The 27th International Building Construction Materials and Technologies Show. For more information: http://www.yem.net/yem/english/fairs/ist/images/TURKEYBUILD_brochure2004.pdf

Turkey Build 2004, May 5-9, 2004, Istanbul, Turkey. The 27^th International Building Construction Materials and Technologies Show. For more information: http://www.yem.net/yem/english/fairs/ist/images/TURKEYBUILD_brochure2004.pdf